American Community?

[Zebra]

Knew to Forum and every time I read and learn more the more I want to go out to thailand..so far been concentrating on pattaya because of certain scuba programs.

Just wanted to know of the Americna community if there is one and what they think. seemes most peopel are from UK and Europe.

Thnx guys

[OldAsiaHand]

Yeah, it's kind of odd. While there are a lot of Americans around here, on the whole the American are more likely to be geographically spread out and have involvements in a wide variety of things having nothing to do with our origin. As a result, you are far less aware of anything you might call an 'American community' than you are of, to name two examples, the Brit community or the German community, both of which are highly visible. There are no American clubs, American restaurants (well....Bourbon Street, maybe), or American bars where we gather to get drunk and watch football. My theory is that, mostly, we've got better things to do.

[Up2U]

If you're into diving - look at Phuket and Krabi rather than Pattaya.

Also Sihanoukville (Snooky) in Cambodia - will develop into a good diving centre over the next few years. Pattaya is for the 'dabblers' only.

[Khun Larry]

Knew to Forum

Interresting American wording

Where you really from?

[Zebra]

Well excuse me for being a little different and trying to maybe catch people's eye by using knew instead of new...

Anyway its all in jest.

Interesting that you were the only one to comment about it though

--------

About diving....my thailand interests recently saprked about a week ago when I was looking at diving programs and stumbled onto a 6 month instructor course in Pattaya. Havent found many programs that are seemingly comparable yet, but i am looking. In some ways it makes sense that pattaya is for dabblers as it gives new instructors a chance to teach I guess. Not that I am any kind of authority.

I really appreciate the info!

Will look into thos other places you mentioned and would love any futher feedback you could provide!

Thanx

[davethailand]

i'm not sure of a US community as far as get togethers are concerned, but there certainly are yanks in pattaya, they come all the time for cobra gold , only joking

i'm from the uk but have a bar in pattaya and there are lots of american expats here, as far as diving is concerned i'm not a diver but pattaya has many proffessional diving centres, they dive the wrecks in sattahip as well as the local reefs.

[Khun Larry]

Well excuse me for being a little different and trying to maybe catch people's eye by using knew instead of new...

People with poor English skills looking for where Americans assemble raises a red flag now a days.

[bangsaen bob]

I understand there are a lot of here. There is a VFW meeting in Pattaya once a month. A friend of mine at the embassy told me that there is nomally one American death on an Avg. of every three days in Thailand, all causes.

The 4th of July picnic is always a hugh turnout in Bangkok, I would say normally about 10,000 people go, guess. end of Sukhumvit soi 15 on Sat. Jul 3, afternoon till fireworks when dark.

There is the Alamo bar on soi 8 off the beach road in Pattaya.

Gook Luck

[ubergnome]

Knew to Forum and every time I read and learn more the more I want to go out to thailand..so far been concentrating on pattaya because of certain scuba programs.

Which SCUBA programs? Just curious. Great diving all over the region.

I'd agree with the suggestion to check out Phuket, Krabi and the Andaman coast.

There is fantastic diving around here and off the Burmese coast as well.

This 6 month instructor package isn't necessarily a great idea. I could be a rip off (depends). You could get your basic cert, then get your hours in working for an operator anywhere, including Ko Tao, Samui, Phuket, wherever, and it might cost you a whole lot less in the end. Plus you won't be stuck in Pattaya, which could get old very fast, or expensive very fast, depending on your proclivities.

Just come over...you'll like it here. And better to do your research on the ground. Everything is different when you're actually here and have had a good look around.

Just one reference, there's an outfit called SEAL in Phuket (among dozens of others), don't know if there on the web but see if you can find them.

True, you don't run into Yanks as much as other Falangs. I'd guess it's coz there's not as many of us around and we don't tend to organize into nationalist 'clubs' as our European cousins seem to do.

Have fun.

[Family Values]

Koh Tao is great for diving!!

Stay away from Pattaya, full of freaks and perverts!!!!

[chuckd]

Warning...."Stay away from Pattaya, full of freaks and perverts!!!!"

Another brilliant post by somebody with two posts to their credit. Since I live in Pattaya with my 11 year old daughter, which do I fall under? The freak or pervert section.

Seems this forum is loaded with rocket scientists.

[chuckd]

Zebra:

There are quite a few Americans living in Pattaya but no real organization or club formed by them, that I know of.

If you are into golf, you will meet many of them. Bowling in a league will also open some doors for you. Bangsaen Bob has mentioned the Alamo Bar on Soi 8. Lots of Yanks hanging around there. You might try Llewinskis on Soi Pattayaland but it is a golf crowd.

I don't know of any group of Yanks that are in the dive scene however.

Just come on over and become a freak or pervert (your choice apparantly).

You will meet other nationalities and develop new friendships.

[Family Values]

Warning...."Stay away from Pattaya, full of freaks and perverts!!!!"

Another brilliant post by somebody with two posts to their credit. Since I live in Pattaya with my 11 year old daughter, which do I fall under? The freak or pervert section.

Seems this forum is loaded with rocket scientists.

Sorry Chuck didn't mean to hit a nerve

I never said EVERYONE was a freak or a pervert but that Pattaya was full of them(can't argue with that surely?)

[chonabot]

Koh Tao is full of smug backpacker wannabee diver types , stoners basically

[chuckd]

Family Values:

Thanks and no harm done. I see that a lot on this forum where Pattaya is attacked as being equivalent to Sodom and Gomorrah. I moved there from BKK many years ago because of the much cleaner air, lighter traffic and the multitude of golf courses. The host of bars was certainly not the driving force.

I own my home and am happily raising my 11 year old daughter alone. I seldom drink and never get drunk and I just resent it when I am wrongly branded, even lightly, just because of my choice of residences.

No big deal.

[Snapshot]

Warning...."Stay away from Pattaya, full of freaks and perverts!!!!"

I am one of those people you are describing ... I lived in Pattaya from 1985 to 1992 - I moved to Bangkok 1992, have lived here since

... would move back to Pattaya any time I could ... that means if I could make any money there...

Maybe I am not freaked or perverted enough now... just wonder - it seems some posters know better ...

[Emuu]

they dive the wrecks in sattahip as well as the local reefs

Actually, may or the wrecks in Pattaya dive on the wrecks that lie just off Pattaya.

and for you snapshot,

Maybe I am not freaked or perverted enough now

, I've read enough of your posts to stand up for you and declare I believe you are perverse enough. Come on home, all's forgiven!

Regarding Americans, there are pleanty here, and the cast majority are good folks who live well and play nicely with their neighbours.

You may come across an occasional one who is a con artist, just don't hand over any money without full contracts that have been vetted by a reputable lawyer. There are locals chasing millions of baht of misappropriated funds by not following the normal proper rules of business.

Always ask around for a week or two about people before you do anything too rash. There are two Expat clubs here, both of which have many Americans, some of whom are even from the US of A., some of whom can spell.

[chuckd]

Spel watt?

[chumao]

You might want to get in touch with Steve, the American owner of Mermaid diving in Jomtien.

[Sully]

Emuu! Kwit komplainin! Your pal, Sully.